Tribute to David Oxton P’03,’08

Wishing Mr. Oxton a Happy Retirement

Thirty-two years ago, David Oxton began his teaching career at Governor’s and has since inspired countless students to love photography, with many pursuing it professionally. While he taught the technical fundamentals of cameras, dark rooms, and printers, his true impact lay in his ability to encourage students to see the world differently and capture images that were authentic to the artist and engaging for the audience.

Assistant Head of School Mike Kinnealey noted, “To sit in on one of David's classes is to witness students transported to a professional level of dialog, complete with the language and courage to give and hear critiques of very personal work.”

During his tenure at Govs, David chaired the Art Department, advised hundreds of students, and coached various teams. His ability to deeply listen, offer sound advice and honest counsel, and share a good laugh earned him the respect, admiration, and genuine affection of students and colleagues alike.

David’s students had the chance to meet and learn from some of the world’s most acclaimed photographers, including Pulitzer Prize winners, White House photographers, and even some of David’s former students. Since 1999, eleven of David’s photography students have won national medals in the Scholastic Art Awards competition.

Chunbai Zhang ‘94 reflects, “I still remember Mr. Oxton’s teaching about light in photography. He made me more observant of the objects and people around me. I have since become an avid amateur photographer for life and still have photos I shot for his class back in 1994 using a Pentax he distributed to each student.”

“David Oxton is the teacher I aspire to be,” said colleague and Film and 3D Arts teacher Geoff Brace.

“From the moment I stepped into the photo studio as a prospective faculty member, David has been a mentor, confidant, support service, and a great friend. ‘Never too busy’ seems to be his motto. Whether preparing for a student art show, submitting images and portfolios to the Scholastic Art Awards, or finishing grades and comments, David always made time for students or colleagues.”

David’s photo studio was always buzzing with activity. Students understood it was a space to explore their creative selves or discuss their images. David championed his students’ creative development, encouraging them to experiment with their creative vision, and frequently showcased student photography across campus. He was always available to critique and make suggestions, guiding his students as both artists and individuals. 

 

About David Oxton

Before arriving at Governor’s, David began his photography career working for design and editorial clients in Boston and carved out time along the way to pursue his own distinguished career as a professional photographer. His most recent photo project, “Trackside,” is a collection of photos made in backyards and stations alongside the commuter rail lines that stretch north from Boston. Influenced by the work of the photographer O. Winston Link, who affectionately captured scenes of steam trains passing through small towns in the 1950s, Oxton is attempting to produce updated scenes of life affected by commuter trains passing through small cities and towns in Massachusetts.  Learn more about David’s remarkable work.

 

A photo from Oxton's "Trackside: Stations" collection